The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1887-12-20
THE BURNT ROCK.

y . . =
sGS @ -----------~.~-..
Beautiful Pauna was proud, very
@lrond. She did not have those grea5
5iblack eyes, arched black Drows, and
aquilline nose FOR nothing! Her mouth
was not exactly small, but it was very
we'll shaped: and when she spoke or
laughed, two rows Of daZzlingly white
teeth became visible. She arranged the
plaits of her tresses about her brOws
like crown, and those who watched
her passing gracefully by, with head
erect, smilingly called her "Princess. y
But Pa,na never looked so proud,
ana never turned her head away, when
Tanase passed. She would always lis
ten to him, moreover, when he talked
about the hora-the national dance.
Furthermore, if anyone tried to tease
her by speaking about the young man,
Z her cheeks would crimson, but her
sharp and cutting words Mould soon
teach the audacious speaker not to
carry his pleasantries further. The
young men were all very envious OF
Tanase, especially after it came to be
hnown that the pair were besrothed.
The war came. Tanase was obliged
i TO join the army, and take his way to
Inc Danube. Pauna concealed her tears
, Pefore others, but she wept in secret,
s ana no one dared to ask the cause or her
grief
Nobody ever knew how she managed
70 OBTAIN news Of the war before any
BODY else in the village. An extraor-
! 3Sna1l1nfary 3ta11fa faintness came upon her, and
sisfle was obliged to lean upon the mile
sstone at the entrance Of the village. il,
J Sfdaf 70 'rcer nzrs rysssr.ssr r,re,t-
folks began to talk about the Hlst bat
Ties. Pauna could not sleep any more,
! md She was often obliged to leave her
s lamp burning at night in. order to BAH
Y isI Tie awful fancies that haunted her
visions of Tanase, covered with ter
rible wounds, dead or about to die.
81 1t was while thus afflicted that, on
i one particularly gloomy night, she had
remained sitting on the edge of her bed,
!. Still dressed never suspecting that
z ksomebody was prowling about the house
Il and staring at her window. She did
not know how beautiful she looked
with ller large eyes gazing fixedly be-
I fore her. and her slender hands clasped
q upon her knees.
Suddenly she heard a light knock at
the window. With cry Of fright the
poor girl Hleaped to her feet, and turned
z. her face in the direction Of the sound
1 without seeking to pierce the oDscurity,
1T seemed to her that she could distin-
/ guish the form of Tanase; and then she
I heard a voice calling gently
fPauna, my dearest PaunaI Come
out to me, | pray theel It is I, thine
own devoted lover Tanase'
In moment Pauna lifted the latch
Of the door, rushed forth, and soon felt
herself clasped in the strong arms Of
Gher beloved Tanase, But she pushed
him away, saying,
.Whatl Is it indeed thou, or IS
someone seeking to mock me?''
"Dost thou not see thy ring, my
Pauna2 - and here, about my neck. is
the little blessed image thou didst give.
mel 1 could not bear the separation
any longer. / wanted to see If thou
hadst forgotten me,''
"But who gave thee permission to
leave the army2"
''No one-myself, +"
''No one?-and yet thou art herep
Then surely the war is over?''
''Alas mol the war still goes on; but /
came away by stealth for love Of thee. y
"For love Of me-" Pauna laughed a
low, stifled laugh. ssDost thou iancy
that it delights me to have deserter
for my betrothed? Gol--begonel let
my eyes never look on thee againl''
Fauna is this the kind of love thou
hast for mel Thou wouldst even send
4 me to my deathl"
"Go whithersoeyer it may please
thee, but thou mayst feel we'll assured
that will never be thy vito; for I
could not but dcspise such a husband
as thou, and never will espouse one
whom I despise. :"
Thou lowest anotherl''
Nay, Ianase, love no nan but
thse. have passed my nights In think.
ing Of thee; but ! never fancied even In
my dreams that / loved trembling
coward. y
Fauna hid her face in her hands and
! wept.
81 thought thou wouldst welcome
mysreturn with joy--that thou wouldst
hide me in thy house,
"Qh, what shamel' cried the girl.
"Oh, the shame of having been be-
trothed to such u one as thoul Listen
b to what 1 tell thee The Buceg lone